Page 39 of Mile High With the Bikers (Screaming Eagles MC #10)

RORY

I barely make it out of the driver's seat before I'm wrapped up in Bull's arms, getting kissed into oblivion while he squeezes me like I'm the last of the toothpaste in the tube. My toes curl as I hang from his arms and our mouths get thoroughly reacquainted.

When we finally break apart, I smile right up into those coal-fiery eyes of his. “You came.”

He growls at me. “Of course we did, and if you ever scare us like that again, I’m locking you up and throwing away the fucking key.”

“Is that a threat? Because it sounds like you want to keep me.”

Bull doesn’t get the chance to answer before Diesel rips me out of his arms to pull me into his.

He peppers kisses all over. On my face, on my head, my cheek, over my eye, and then finally right on my lips as his hand wraps around the back of my neck leaving me nowhere to go.

Which is fine, because I’m exactly where I want to be.

I wrap my legs around him, and if I wasn't so absolutely worn down by everything I've just gone through, I'd be all for trying that again, but without clothes on.

At least until Shrapnel comes around the car, limping, broken nose, blood streaks on his cheek and neck, but grinning like an idiot.

Diesel lowers me gently to the ground so I can throw myself into Shrapnel’s arms. He looks like he’s been through hell, but he’s alive and standing.

When he presses me against him, I bury my face in his chest and let the tears come.

“Leon said he took care of you, I was so sure you were lying out there dead and I'd never see you again.”

“I won’t lie, it got pretty fucking close, but never count an Eagle out until you’ve seen proof.

We have a funny way of making it through no matter the odds.

You might need to give me a minute before I can celebrate the way I want to, though.

” He laughs, burying his fingers into my hair so he can grip it and tilt my head back.

For a moment, there's nothing but his deep brown eyes, and then our lips mash together.

He kisses me hard, like he needs to reclaim me after everything that happened, and make sure that no one forgets that I belong to him.

My scalp tingles, my lips ache just a little, but it feels so right, so good to be back with all three of them.

“Alright, who needs attention? Oh fuck, you again, Shrapnel?” asks a square-built man whose short hair and beard have gone white. He's followed by Emily with a medical kit.

“Nah, Doc. Check the car first. Connor Whittaker's in the back. He’s stable but he needs you way more than me.” He moves to open the car, but Doc blocks him.

“I'll get it. Emily, check that stubborn hardass. I'm sure I can get a couple guys to help me carry Mr. Whittaker into the infirmary, right?”

It’s Bull and Diesel’s turn to try to help, but this time Viking pushes them back. “See to your girl and Shrapnel. We'll help Doc. Come find us after.”

“Doc knows what he's doing,” Diesel assures me. “He's one of the few of us who's got a daytime gig working a real job. He's an emergency surgeon at the ER. Your dad's in good hands.”

I nod. It's hard to watch Dad as they haul him out, but now that I know he’s alive and probably going to be fine, it feels safe to be annoyed that his ego got us into this in the first place.

“Ow!” Shrapnel protests when Emily checks his nose.

“Do you want this to set wrong and then have to listen to Rory complain about your snoring for the next forty years?” It’s funny to see a short, curvy woman yell at my big strong biker. After dealing with these guys for a while, you apparently learn how to keep them from walking all over you.

He rolls his eyes. “Fine. Just get it over with.”

“This is going to hurt.” She grins, and pulls a wad of cloth out of the first aid kit. “Just hold this under to catch the bleeding.”

No anesthesia or anything? I look away. There's a crunch, a loud groan, a “Jesus fuck,” and then quiet.

I turn back to find Emily patting his cheek. “Good boy.” Then she turns to me. “Keep an eye on him, okay? They’re a stubborn breed and sometimes you have to twist their arms into taking care of themselves. Oh, and I’ll get your email later so we can add you to the Brunch Club calendar. Good luck!”

“Thanks?” I nod, feeling a little overwhelmed. She’s at least assuming that I’m here for good.

“I’m going to go do the rounds and make sure nobody’s leaking anything they shouldn’t be.

The guys can show you where your dad is later.

Doc will get him patched up, I promise.” She turns back to Shrapnel with a stern look as she walks away.

“And don't forget to check your nose with Doc. I'm going to tell him to expect you.”

“Yes, ma'am.” It's a little muffled since he's still holding the cloth to his nose to catch the blood.

We get a few more pats on the back, people saying they're happy we're safe, stuff like that, but they clear out when Eagle-eye walks over.

He has a dark haired toddler sleeping on his chest, completely unbothered by the noise and carnage all around.

He fixes me with a serious look. “Are we going to continue to have more trouble with your dad or can you contain this?”

I swallow, hard. “It’s over. I’ll make sure of it.”

He addresses Bull, Diesel and Shrapnel. “Boys, she’s your responsibility. You get two days and then you’re back on the normal rotation.”

They look a little shell shocked, but nod.

“What was that about?” I whisper.

“Nothing to worry about,” Bull says. “Your stuff is still in your room at the clubhouse. Let’s crash there for now. It’ll keep you closer to your father if you want to check on him later.”

“Perfect.”

When we pass through the common room, two people jump up from the back of the room. “Rory!” Cherry comes running.

Right behind her, Opal's following, tugging her little dress down. Whoever she was sitting on yells, “Hey, where the fuck are you going?” Oh my God, was she really…

“I'll be right back—just… jerk off or something!” Guess she was.

Bemused, the guys take a step back so they're not hit by the Cherry and Opal rockets. I get squeezed tight between them as they both hug me.

“We were so worried.” Cherry gives me an extra squeeze.

“Yeah, we just met you, and suddenly you're being kidnapped and the whole club is mobilizing. We knew they'd bring you back, of course. I guess Angel was right, you’re more the old lady type.”

Cherry laughs. “Definitely. But it was scary. And things can get a little wild around here sometimes.”

“Anyway, we're glad you're back and safe.” Opal gives my hair a ruffle and grins. “Besides, you need to help me plan the costume party, and we should go to the Roost and celebrate you being okay and stuff.”

I think I'm going to get a headache just thinking about the last time, but I smile and nod. Maybe next time will go better.

“Opal, what the fuck?” a frustrated Eagle yells from behind the couch.

She giggles. “I guess I did start something I didn’t finish.”

“Want a hand?” Cherry offers.

“Sure, babes. Don't be a stranger, Rory, okay?”

“Yeah, okay.” I say to their backs, as they're both strutting back to the guy who doesn’t know how lucky he’s about to get. Will I ever get over how wild this place is? Probably not, but I think I want to stick around so I can try.

Back in the room, I stretch out on the bed, closing my eyes and just existing for a moment, without having to worry about hacking computers, being shot at, being kidnapped—just me and the three men I’m starting to feel are mine.

Diesel slips in next to me, resting his big hand just up under my shirt, on my bare belly.

“Fuck, if something had happened to you…” He doesn't complete the sentence, but he doesn't have to.

I feel like that about him too. I put my hand down on top of his, tracing the veins on the back of it with my fingertips.

Bull gets on the bed on the other side. “So what's going to happen with Hermes now?”

I shrug. “Someone stepped on my dongle, so it’s on hold for now I guess. It's okay, though I've still got three really nice dongles here.” I put my hand on his crotch, unable to resist giving the lump there a little squeeze. It’s got to be one of the oldest geek jokes.

“You're playing with fire.” His growl is right in that sweet spot between a threat and a dirty promise.

I yank my hand back. “Still need to recover, but hold that thought for later.” Then I sigh as I give his question more serious thought. “I’m going to make sure we do what we should’ve done in the first place, publish our research as soon as we know how to advise people to protect their networks.”

I hear a soft snore and crawl over to Shrapnel, who’s stretched out with his arm over his head. He looks like hell, but I rest my cheek on his chest and put my hand over his heart, feeling the steady beat. Could I deal with forty years of it like Emily said?

I think I could, so long as it was the four of us.

“More important question.” Bull rolls closer so he can get his hand under the back of my shirt and slide his big hands up and down the center of my back.

“What's your plan now? You're free to go anywhere you want.

Hopefully, your daddy learned a lesson or two today, and either way I don't see you going back to being his flunky.”

I chuckle. “No, I don’t think I can keep working for him once this project is settled. I might start my own thing. I think he’d respect that, actually. I’d need somewhere to live, though. I don’t think I can go back to settling for a corner of his apartment.”

“Stay,” Diesel says, not hiding it in a joke or beating around the bush for once. “I want to see where this goes.”

Bull nods. “This place would be fucking lonely if it was just the three of us again.”

Shrapnel stirs, closing his hand over mine. There’s still dried blood around his nails.

“Really?” I’m almost afraid to believe that it’s true. That there are people who want me around just because I’m me. Friends and lovers who smile when they see me. Women who will hand me their babies and invite me in. Men who will put down their lives for me.

“Yeah, really.” Bull brings his hand all the way up to my neck, pulling me close to kiss me. “You can help me pick my next course. Maybe we can take it together.”

I nod, chest burning with a feeling I’m a little afraid to speak out loud.

Diesel nods. “Glad that’s settled.”

I put my head back down on Shrapnel's chest. “Keep me safe.”

And they do, while I doze off.

And when I wake up in the morning, they're all still there.